The new apps look and behave much like the native apps you find on Windows and OS X. They're built using web technologies, but also with Chrome-specific code that means they won't be able to run on other web browsers - they're truly Chrome apps. They can exist outside of your browser window as distinct apps, work offline, and sync across devices and operating systems. They can also access your computer's GPU, storage, camera, ports, and Bluetooth connection. Chrome Apps are, for now, only available through Chrome on Windows or Chrome OS on a Chromebook. Mac users will have to wait another six weeks before their version of Chrome will be updated.

This is very important for Chrome OS - since this means it can now have applications outside of the browser. Google's plans for Chrome OS suddenly became a whole lot clearer.

Web apps are terrible. Yes they're a ok way to create cross platform apps for minimum cost, but don't fool yourself into thinking they are anywhere close to native apps. They aren't now and they never will be.
But every developer is doomed to make the same mistake. Get excited about things like phonegap and make some apps. Then realize that anything beyond the trivial is clunky, slow, and error prone. Facebook made that mistake and had to trash their whole mobile strategy in favour of native apps. Now their apps are miles better.

Why not just write apps in a cross-platform language, like fpc/lazarus or if you want C/C++? You can just create one code based and target any supported platform as you like.